Bears target o-line, safety, tight end in new 5-round mock draft

With the 2020 NFL Draft just about a week away, we’re close to seeing what Bears GM Ryan Pace does for this roster.

With the 2020 NFL Draft just about a week away, we’re close to seeing what Bears general manager Ryan Pace does for this roster with needs on both the offense and defense.

In Sports Illustrated’s new five-round mock draft, Kevin Hanson has the Bears addressing three important needs in offensive line, safety and tight end.

With the 43rd overall pick, Hanson has Chicago landing Michigan offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz. While Ruiz has lined up at center for the last two seasons with the Wolverines, he’s capable of playing either left or right guard. Considering the Bears have a starting right guard job up for grabs, Ruiz could battle it out amongst Germain Ifedi, Alex Bars and Rashaad Coward.

Then the with the 50th overall selection, Hanson has the Bears targeting Southern Illinois safety Jeremy Chinn. Chinn’s athleticism and ball skills make him one of the best safeties in this draft class. And with the Bears looking to fill the starting strong safety spot opposite Pro Bowler Eddie Jackson, Chinn would be a great fit paired with one of the NFL’s best safeties.

In the fifth round, with the 164th overall pick, Hanson has Chicago taking Stanford tight end Colby Parkinson, which addresses the Bears’ need at a position of need without targeting one too early in the NFL Draft. Parkinson serves as an extra receiver out on the field, and at 6-foot-7, he’d be a big target for Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles, especially in the red zone.

The Bears currently have seven draft picks, but they only have two selections in the first four rounds. The Bears have two second-round picks, as well as one pick in the fifth round and two picks both in the sixth and seventh rounds.

[lawrence-related id=442234,442152,442103,442090]

Browns 2020 NFL draft: An offensive guard for every round

Browns 2020 NFL draft: An offensive guard for every round

The Browns are set at left guard with Joel Bitonio, but the right guard position is a huge question mark. Wyatt Teller would be the starter if the season began today. It could be worse, but Teller’s uneven play leaves the door open for improvement.

Drew Forbes enters his second season still making the position change from tackle, a process hindered by spending half his rookie season on IR. Eric Kush is gone and nobody else should be seen as a potential long-term starter.

That leads to the draft. Expect the Browns to tab an interior offensive lineman at some point. Aside from needing a stable long-term solution at right guard, the cupboard behind veteran center JC Tretter is bare. Finding a guard who can also play center, or vice versa makes sense in the later rounds if they elect to roll with the Teller/Forbes combo fighting for the starting spot in 2020.

Here is a guard prospect for each round for the Browns in the 2020 NFL Draft.

1st round: Cesar Ruiz, Michigan

Ruiz isn’t worthy of the 10th overall pick, where the Browns currently sit. But with a trade back, or a move up from the second round into the bottom of the first, Ruiz makes sense.

He primarily played center for Michigan but does have the strength and temperament to move back to guard. Ruiz is one of those blockers that does everything pretty well, nothing extraordinary. His ability to engage and stick with targets in space would be a nice upgrade to help Nick Chubb get more yards more often.

With Tretter approaching 30 and with a team-friendly contract long-term, Ruiz could start at right guard for a year or two and then slide over as Tretter’s replacement in the middle.

2nd round: Lloyd Cushenberry, LSU

Another collegiate center, Cushenberry offers a stronger base inside than Ruiz — or just about anyone. He can engage with either hand and then sink his hips and explode through his shoulders extremely well.

Cushenberry plays in a more limited space than the Browns might prefer at guard in the anticipated zone scheme. He’s not quick laterally, but the whipsmart Cushenberry understands the geometry of engagement and how to move in coordination with the linemen around him quite adeptly. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan would love him. So would Baker Mayfield when Cushenberry stonewalls all the bull-rushers with his rock-solid form and base strength.

3rd round: Jonah Jackson, Ohio State

Jackson proved his NFL value in his one season with the Buckeyes after transferring from Rutgers. He’s smart, versatile and at best in pass protection while picking up second-level rushers and EDGEs coming inside.

His movement skills are inconsistent on game tape, but the base athleticism works for what the Browns will ask of Jackson at right guard. He’s not a people-mover and can sometimes play too carefully.

4th round: Nick Harris, Washington

Harris stands out on tape for his ability to get out to the second level and seal a crease. He played both center and guard for the Huskies, and his athletic range and movement skills are exactly what the Browns project to desire. Harris is undersized and underpowered, and he’ll need to sustain his pass blocks more consistently.

5th round: Logan Sternberg, Kentucky

Smart, tough, functionally capable blocker who wins (and loses) with his initial punch and first step thereafter. When Sternberg hits and drives behind the punch, he’s an NFL starter. When he’s high or late or leans too far, Sternberg’s not ever getting off the practice squad. His stronger, more consistent senior season gives hope for higher development potential.

6th round: John Molchon, Boise State

Crafty and quick but short-armed, and it causes him to lose leverage too often in pass protection. Molchon moved inside from tackle and still has his pass protection footwork. At his best when he’s the aggressor and in wider splits where the surrounding noise doesn’t impact him.

7th round: Kyle Murphy, Rhode Island

If the Browns are interested in a developmental guard who probably won’t make the 53-man roster as a rookie, Murphy would be a good choice. The tools are there in terms of movement, frame and attitude, but he needs more core strength and more consistent technique with his hands and feet before he’s ready for the NFL.

[lawrence-related id=42399]

Prospect for the Pack: Michigan IOL Cesar Ruiz

Breaking down the draft profile of Michigan interior offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz, a potential pick for the Packers in the 2020 draft.

The Green Bay Packers must use the 2020 NFL Draft to provide the finishing touches on a team that won 13 regular-season games and got within one game of the Super Bowl during Matt LaFleur’s first season as head coach.

Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect fitting the Packers’ roster needs.

Up next is Michigan interior offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz:

What he can do

– Good mix of size and athleticism at the position. 6-3, 307. Was quick in the 40-yard dash and short shuttle, with good jumps at his size. Quickness is a strength

– Versatile, with a bunch of starts at center and guard. Should be able to play all three interior line spots

– Overall, wins a ridiculously high percentage of snaps

– Effective pass protector. Can handle all body types. Good feet and anchor. Really could be an effective pass blocker at center and both guard spots

– Allowed only three sacks despite playing over 1,000 pass-blocking snaps the last three years, per Pro Football Focus. Didn’t give up a single sack in 2019

– Good-looking snaps as a combo blocker. Times the release into the second level well, effective walling off linebackers to create alleyways into the secondary

– Not a dominant, road-grading run blocker. Better when on the move, reaching defenders, moving to the second level and getting out in space in front of plays. Could be a nice fit in the zone run scheme

– Reason to believe he’ll improve as a run blocker as he grows into his body and gets stronger overall

– Will explode off the ball and deliver the first blow on interior defenders

– Big, strong hands that can manipulate big people in the middle of the line

– Too many penalties. Committed six in 2019, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic

– Handled business against Alabama, a good measuring stick for any offensive lineman

– High motor and keeps the intensity high

– Young. Doesn’t turn 21 until June

How he fits

Possibly two ways. Starting center Corey Linsley is a free agent following the 2020 season, and the Packers might have a long-term need at right guard. Ruiz looks like a future starting center who could play guard without issue. The Packers re-signed Lucas Patrick, providing some veteran depth in case Linsley departs, and former starter Lane Taylor remains on the roster, but teams can never have enough quality big guys up front. If drafted, Ruiz could replace Linsley in 2021 or even challenge right guard Billy Turner for a starting spot in 2020. Letting Linsley go might be a resulting cost of re-signing big-time players like David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones and Kenny Clark over the next year. The question is whether the Packers would want to invest another high pick on the interior offensive line.

NFL comp

PFF likes Maurkice Pouncey as a comparison. There are some size comparisons to former NFL starting center Nick Hardwick. His athletic profile is relatively unique at center.

Where Packers could get him

Most draft analysts view Ruiz as a top-50 player in the class and a likely pick in the first two rounds. It’s really difficult to envision the Packers using the 30th pick on a center or guard, but Ruiz could start making some sense in the second round.

Previous Prospects for the Pack

WR Tee Higgins
LB Kenneth Murray
LB Patrick Queen
WR Jalen Reagor
WR Justin Jefferson
TE Harrison Bryant
WR Denzel Mims
WR Brandon Aiyuk
WR/TE Chase Claypool
LB Zack Baun
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither
OT Josh Jones
OT Austin Jackson
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
DL Raekwon Davis
DB Xavier McKinney
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
DL A.J. Epenesa
TE Hunter Bryant
RB Jonathan Taylor
RB Zack Moss
WR Michael Pittman
WR K.J. Hamler
WR John Hightower
LB Jordyn Brooks
LB Troy Dye
LB Willie Gay Jr.
OT Jack Driscoll
WR Devin Duvernay
OT Ezra Cleveland
WR Van Jefferson
OT Andrew Thomas
S Grant Delpit
TE Cole Kmet
OT Tristan Wirfs
QB Jordan Love
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
DB Jeremy Chinn
RB/WR Antonio Gibson
DL Jordan Elliott
DB K’Von Wallace
WR Bryan Edwards
DL Ross Blacklock
LB Logan Wilson
DL Justin Madubuike
RB Cam Akers
LB Malik Harrison
RB Darrynton Evans
WR Lynn Bowden Jr. 
WR Gabriel Davis
LB Josh Uche
CB Trevon Diggs
DB Terrell Burgess
OLB Terrell Lewis
CB A.J. Terrell
WR Quintez Cephus
TE Albert Okwuegbunam
QB Jalen Hurts
WR Tyler Johnson

What is the Rams’ perfect prospect pair in Round 2?

A pair of Michigan prospects would be an ideal scenario for the Rams in the second round.

After trading Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans, the Los Angeles Rams are in a great position to add two impact rookies in the draft. They own the 52nd and 57th overall picks, the latter of which they acquired in the Cooks trade.

With holes on the offensive line, at linebacker and possibly even running back, there are a number of ways the Rams can go in the second round. But what would be the ideal scenario for Los Angeles with its first two picks?

According to Chad Reuter of NFL.com, a double-dip of Michigan prospects would be the best-case scenario for the Rams. In this exercise where he and Lance Zierlein lay out the ideal situation for each team’s top two picks, Reuter went with center Cesar Ruiz and edge rusher Josh Uche at No. 52 and 57, respectively.

The Rams have not had a first-round pick since they selected quarterback Jared Goff No. 1 overall in 2016. But with two picks in the mid-second round this year, including the one recently gained from Houston for Brandin Cooks, GM Les Snead can make some hay. Fortifying the interior of the team’s offensive line is a must, so grabbing Ruiz (one of LSU’s starters, such as center Lloyd Cushenberry or guard Damien Lewis, would also work if Ruiz is gone) would be a smart plan with their first pick. Although they’ll miss out on the draft’s elite edge prospects, they could land players like Uche or Notre Dame’s Julian Okwara at 57th overall to help improve the team’s pass rush. As for one team grabbing two players from the same college in the same round? It happens more often than you might think. For example, the Saints selected two Ohio State players in the second round in 2016 — receiver Michael Thomas and safety Vonn Bell.

Both players have been projected to the Rams in several mock drafts, and for good reason. Ruiz is arguably the best center prospect in the draft, and Uche is a player who fits the mold of a 3-4 outside linebacker. It’s very likely that they’d both be Day 1 starters for Los Angeles, though Uche would have to beat out Samson Ebukam and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo first.

The Rams could also take a wide receiver with their first pick if someone like Denzel Mims, Jalen Reagor or Brandon Aiyuk fall to No. 52, or they may prepare for the future at left tackle in advance of Andrew Whitworth’s retirement.

The Rams will have options in the second round, but it’s hard to argue with Reuter’s picks of Ruiz and Uche as one of the best scenarios.

Several prospects of note to Broncos fans will participate in the draft

Several big-name prospects will participate in the NFL draft from their homes.

Top prospects won’t “attend” the NFL draft this year because the event will be held in a virtual format due to COVID-19. That doesn’t mean prospects won’t be able to participate at all, though.

The league announced last week that 58 prospects will participate in the draft — cameras will be set up in their homes for live look-ins and interviews.

Of note to Broncos fans, some of the top wide receiver, cornerback and offensive line prospects are among the prospects participating this year.

  • WR: Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, Henry Ruggs III, Brandon Aiyuk, Chase Claypool, Tee Higgins, Justin Jefferson, Denzel Mims, Jalen Reagor, Laviska Shenault
  • CB: Jeff Okudah, C.J. Henderson, AJ Terrell, Kristian Fulton, Trevon Diggs, Jaylon Johnson
  • OL: Tristan Wirfs, Andrew Thomas, Mekhi Becton, Jedrick Wills, Ezra Cleveland, Lloyd Cushenberry, Josh Jones, Austin Jackson, Cesar Ruiz, Prince Tega Wanogho

Most draft pundits seem to agree that wide receiver, cornerback and offensive line are Denver’s three biggest positions of need in this year’s draft. With that being the case, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Broncos select several players listed above who will be participating in the draft from their homes.

To view the complete list of draft prospects participating, visit NFL.com.

[vertical-gallery id=636923]

The Athletic’s latest NFL mock draft sees two first-round Michigan picks

Dane Brugler released his fifth mock draft, a full seven-rounds, and saw 8 Wolverines selected, including two in the first-round.

[jwplayer QEyQIBgR-XNcErKyb]

This is the first time we’ve seen this in 2020 mock drafts, but the theme is consistent with recent years when Michigan has put several players into the NFL.

In 2016, when Michigan led all of college football with 11 NFL draft picks, Taco Charlton and Jabrill Peppers were both selected in the first-round. In 2019, the Wolverines put Devin Bush Jr. and Rashan Gary into the league with the No. 10 and No. 12 picks, respectively.

According to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler in his NFL mock draft 5.0 ($), the maize and blue again had two first-round selections.

While many have prognosticated that early entrant, center Cesar Ruiz, would sneak into the tail end first-round, Brugler sees things similarly, but also says another Michigan teammate will join him, albeit several picks earlier.

It’s part of a seven-round mock that sees eight Wolverines selected, with a few changes compared to some of the usual suspects we’ve seen picked in other multiple-round mocks.

  • No. 27 (1) – Josh Uche – Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are always a wild card on draft day so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a stunner here like Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor. But I’m going with Uche, who gives Seattle an explosive edge threat and a player just scratching the surface of his ability.

  • No. 31 (1) – Cesar Ruiz – San Francisco 49ers

With the 49ers not picking again until the fifth round, good bet they look to trade back (maybe for a team looking to trade up for Jordan Love?). But if they stay put, upgrading the interior offensive line is on the priority list and Ruiz has big upside as a center-guard.

  • No. 107 (4) – Ben Bredeson – Cincinnati Bengals
  • No. 115 (4) – Donovan Peoples-Jones – Cleveland Browns
  • No. 161 (5) – Josh Metellus – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • No. 188 (6) – Jon Runyan Jr. – Buffalo Bills (from Cleveland)
  • No. 205 (6) – Michael Onwenu – Minnesota Vikings
  • No. 245 (7) – Sean McKeon – San Francisco 49ers

This is the first mock draft from a major publication that includes Michael Onwenu and Sean McKeon and we’ve found very few that have had Josh Metellus — though none this high. But it’s rare that we haven’t seen VIPER Khaleke Hudson, who had a solid showing in the NFL Scouting Combine, be selected in a seven-round mock, and we’d anticipate that CB Lavert Hill and DE Mike Danna could also be picks.

There has been ample speculation in recent weeks that former five-star QB Shea Patterson could go undrafted, such as this from Rivals’ Mike Farrell:

Overview: Patterson played in only 10 games over two seasons at Ole Miss as he dealt with injuries and then he transferred to Michigan to re-spark his career. Rated as the third-best prospect in the 2016 class, Patterson posted good numbers in Ann Arbor but he hardly showed elite passing ability and there’s a decent possibility that he will go undrafted. He finished his college career with 8,800 passing yards with 68 touchdowns and 27 interceptions, only 52 fewer yards than Joe Burrow in two fewer games. An early Arizona pledge who then ended up at Ole Miss, only Rashan Gary and Dexter Lawrence were ranked higher than Patterson in the 2016 class.

Farrell’s take: Patterson had everything you wanted in a quarterback coming out of high school. He was mobile, his arm strength was solid and he had that moxie and confidence you want. It never really showed consistently on the field at either Ole Miss or Michigan, and that’s surprising. Size was the main question about him in high school, but now there are many more questions surrounding him.

The 2020 NFL Draft is slated to begin virtually on April 23.

Report: Cowboys ‘love’ Michigan C Cesar Ruiz; is he Frederick’s replacement?

Cesar Ruiz is a top interior offensive lineman in the 2020 draft class; Dallas may try to get him the way they got Travis Frederick in 2013.

Everyone thinks they know what the Dallas Cowboys need. But past drafts have proven that almost no one ever knows what the owner of the Dallas Cowboys will actually do once he’s on the clock.

2013 is a prime example. Dallas held the 18th overall selection. But when the time came to make a pick, the Cowboys made a trade instead. They gave the 18th pick to the defending NFC champion 49ers, who took safety Eric Reid. The Cowboys slid to 31st with an extra third-round selection in their back pocket.

They used their late first-round pick on center Travis Frederick. With Frederick now retired from football and the Cowboys holding the 17th pick in this year’s draft, Sports Illustrated‘s Peter King says that the Cowboys may be looking at using a similar strategy to nab his long-range replacement.

From King’s “Football Morning in America” column this Monday:

“[The 17th pick]’s too high for a center,” said one personnel wag, “but they love the Michigan center (Cesar Ruiz), and they could trade down a few spots and still be sure of getting him.” Interesting: a plug-and-play heir to Travis Frederick.

Ruiz is universally considered one of the best interior offensive linemen in the Class of 2020. As King notes, taking him with the 17th pick would be seen as a reach. But so was taking Frederick in the first round in 2013.

But Frederick was named the starter on the first day of OTAs, started every game as a rookie, and made the All-Rookie team. Oh, and the club got wide receiver Terrance Williams out of that draft-day deal, too.

Joe Looney looks to be the man in the middle with Frederick now gone (Adam Redmond and Connor McGovern are still there, too). But at nearly 6-foot-3, over 300 pounds, and not even 21 years old, many believe that Ruiz has “elite” status written all over him and could develop into one of the best centers in the game.

Frederick went to five Pro Bowls in the five seasons he played. It’s safe to say that trading back and over-reaching for the player the team wanted clearly worked out well. If Dallas could find a partner club to swap picks with, snagging Ruiz late in the first and picking up an extra selection later might be worth passing on the defensive back or wide receiver that so many in Cowboys Nation are clamoring for.

If Cesar Ruiz turns into a fraction of the player Travis Frederick was, it would be a absolute steal.

Michigan OL Cesar Ruiz on the Philadelphia Eagles radar?

The Philadelphia Eagles appear to have interest in Michigan center Cesar Ruiz

[jwplayer dmEAey5m]

The Philadelphia Eagles have the top offensive line in the NFL and a huge reason for that success is solid drafting, with accrued depth.

With the Eagles losing Halapoulivaati Vaitai to the Detroit Lions in free agency and Jason Peters still on the open market, the Birds could look to restock the offensive line.

A player of interest for Howie Roseman and the Eagles appears to be Camden, New Jersey native and Michigan center, Cesar Ruiz.

Ruiz has been linked to the Eagles for months now and 6ABC’s Jeff Skversky is reporting that the interest is real.

The number one rated center in the draft, Ruiz can play multiple positions and could be looked at as the eventual replacement for All-Pro center, Jason Kelce.

Kelce has made it known that he’s playing on a year to year basis after battling injuries the past few seasons.

Ruiz could also serve as a significant upgrade to left guard Isaac Seumalo, who is viewed by many as the weak link on the Eagles offensive line.

Ruiz told Jeff Skversky that his mother would be very happy if he became a member of the Eagles, because of the short distance to Camden.

At Michigan last season, Ruiz earned second-team all-Big-10 honors and started all 13 games for the Wolverines. Ruiz started 31 games at all five positions for the Wolverines and his versatility could only enhance the Eagles depth on the offensive front.

[vertical-gallery id=632402]

10 Players the Philadelphia Eagles could target in round-2 of 2020 NFL Draft

10 players the Philadelphia Eagles could target in round-2 of the 2020 NFL Draft

[jwplayer 25TEMUeW]

The NFL draft is now just under two weeks away and although the intrigue has been about what the Eagles will do with their first-round pick, there’s plenty of drama surrounding the second-round as well.

The Eagles will again have pick No. 53 and if Howie Roseman chooses to stand pat, there are a number of intriguing options, including a bevy of talented wide receivers.

The Eagles could choose to go cornerback, safety or linebacker with the pick as well.

We’ve provided a list of ten players the Birds could target in round two of the 2020 NFL Draft.

***

Chase Claypool — Notre DameMandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

1. Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame

Considered a second- or third-round pick before the 2020 NFL Combine, Claypool brought back visions of Calvin Johnson with his movements.

At 6-4, 240-pounds with the ability to line up as a tight end, Claypool may have given coaches pause about a position change after he ran a 4.42, making him the first receiver over 230 pounds to run sub-4.45 since Calvin Johnson in 2007.

Claypool is strong, can jump out the gym and could be an option for the Eagles if they move on from Alshon Jeffery.

Two Wolverines to partake in online NFL Draft coverage

Two Wolverines were selected to make virtual appearances since the NFL Draft won’t be held in a physical location this year due to COVID-19.

[jwplayer qIjpf9u7-XNcErKyb]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL Draft won’t have its usual look this year.

Originally planned to take place starting April 20 in Las Vegas — which could have outdone any of the previous locations in terms of hype and crowd potential — now the draft will take place with coaches and GMs quarantined to their own houses, partaking via electronic communication and video.

Still, the draft will go on as planned, there just won’t be players walking out on stage to receive a jersey from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

[lawrence-related id=23209,23202]

But many will still participate. 58, in fact.

The NFL announced Monday that the league would hold a “fully virtual” draft due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. League and club facilities are set to remain closed indefinitely to ensure the NFL is in compliance with current novel coronavirus regulations, and therefore clubs were advised to prepare to conduct the draft outside of their facilities with personnel advised to be in separate locations, using phone and the internet to communicate.

Among those who were invited to be a part of the virtual draft is two former Michigan players, both of whom are likely to be selected in the first three rounds: center Cesar Ruiz and SAM linebacker/DE Josh Uche.

Ruiz has made many recent first-round mocks, coming in the tail end, but others see him as being a potential early second-round pick.

Uche is anticipated to go sometime in day two, in either the second or third-round.

While Michigan with two players is certainly not the most of any school, given there aren’t many high-round players anticipated to be selected, it’s not only solid for the two Wolverines who get to participate, but it’s an indicator that both will be early selections in the draft.

LSU leads with eight players participating in the virtual draft, while Alabama has six, Oklahoma has four, and Auburn, Georgia, Clemson and Ohio State each have three.